This issue records the latest news and shareable content about Zephyr, published in the last week of each month.
This magazine is open source (GitHub: lgl88911/Zephyr_Fans_Monthly[1]), and contributions, issue submissions, or recommendations for Zephyr content are welcome.
Project Data
Excluding merges, 355 authors pushed 1,676 commits to the main branch and 1,771 commits to all branches. A total of 4,414 files changed in the main branch, with 138,487 lines added and 49,870 lines deleted.
Recent Developments:
- Next Generation USB in 4.2.0[2]
- Long-term plan for unified prefix public API[3]
- Adding DALI driver to Zephyr[4]
- Adding support for renesas_elc driver for Renesas devices[5]
- Driver API and thread safety[6]
- Importing counter capture API[7]
- Deprecating blocking read sensor API[8]
Zephyr Architecture Dashboard[9]
News & Events
1. Zephyr participated as an ecosystem partner at The Things Conference[10]
2. Zephyr presentation topics at the Open Source Summit in India[11]
8.5 Zephyr presentation topics at the Open Source Summit in India
- ProtoCentral Electronics: **Application of Zephyr in Open Source Health Devices
- TI: Challenges and Solutions of Zephyr Support for Heterogeneous SoCs
- AMD: Twister Test Framework and Hardware Integration
3. Zephyr Project Meetup in May
- Pune, India 5.23[12]
- Krakow, Poland 5.22[13]
- Boston, USA: 5.22[14]
- Bangalore, India: 5.17[15]
4. Zephyr Weekly Update 5.23[16]
- Zephyr SDK 0.17.1 provides RX toolchain
- A new video framework is available (PR #82158[17]) supporting Bayer, RGB, and YUV formats, adding video shell and CCI tools
- west patch and patches.yml manage downstream patches
- Added boards and drivers
- zephyr.dts now includes comments for easier debugging
- The board directory in documentation includesshields
- Support for CoAP Secure
- LLEXT support forx86 architecture (PR #90176[18]) and ARC MPU (PR#89118[19])
- LVGL supports multiple displays (PR #86815[20]).
- Support forAltera NIOS-II has been removed
<span>west</span>provides basic PowerShell autocompletion
5. Percepio launches free Zephyr debugging tool Percepio View[21]
Percepio has launched a free Zephyr debugging tool, Percepio View, which supports snapshot tracing and kernel event visualization, based on the TraceRecorder library, with advanced analysis features available in the commercial version.
6. Variscite offers Zephyr solutions[22]
Variscite, a globally recognized supplier of embedded system modules (System on Module, SoM), offers Zephyr solutions.
7. ADI’s codefusion-studio supports Zephyr[23]
ADI’s codefusion-studio supports Zephyr 4.1, but there are still some issues.
8. Xuantie processors support Zephyr[24]
The Xuantie Zephyr SDK is a software development kit for Xuantie processors, developed based on Zephyr v3.7.0 LTS, allowing users to compile, develop, and run using the Xuantie toolchain and simulator in the Linux command line.
Abstract & Opinions
1. A user complains about Zephyr on Reddit[25]
A user on Reddit complained about Zephyr regarding module dependencies, complexity, and size, stating that Zephyr is the worst embedded RTOS he has encountered. The comments below discuss various aspects, with many supporting Zephyr and explaining its advantages.
2. 5 Reasons Why Zephyr RTOS Will Dominate the Embedded World[26]
Here are 5 reasons why Zephyr RTOS will dominate the embedded world:
- Active open-source community and industry collaboration
- Cross-platform compatibility and protocol support
- Modular architecture and efficient resource management
- Built-in professional-grade observability tools
- Lowering the barrier to embedded development
The first two points highlight Zephyr’s ecological advantages. The latter three points are technical advantages, but due to the steep learning curve, many novice developers give up before experiencing these benefits, which is reflected in the earlier Reddit complaint.
3. Why Nordic is Switching SDK to Zephyr[27]
This article explains why Nordic is switching its SDK to Zephyr, along with the process and lessons learned.
4. ADI is hiring an Embedded Software Technical Lead[28]
ADI is hiring an Embedded Software Technical Lead to lead AI integration and framework development; experience with Zephyr RTOS is a plus, reflecting the increasing investment by major companies in Zephyr.
5. ABB is hiring interns for Zephyr[29]
ABB’s internship positions highlight the core value of Zephyr RTOS in industrial IoT security.
Courses & Tutorials
1. Zephyr resources available on Renesas official website[30]
Zephyr resources related to Renesas MCUs
2. Basic concepts of the Zephyr kernel[31]
Introduction to some basic concepts and terminology in the Zephyr kernel.
Technologies & Tools
1. Zephyr: A Secure Choice for Embedded MCU Development[32]
Zephyr RTOS provides multi-layer security solutions for embedded devices, integrating MCUboot to verify firmware legitimacy at boot, supporting encrypted OTA updates (such as Mender) to ensure secure remote upgrades. Its modular design simplifies development through Device Tree/Kconfig, accelerating the prototype to mass production process. In terms of communication security, it has built-in mbedTLS support for TLS encryption protocols, ensuring data transmission security. By isolating code permissions in user mode, combined with memory partitioning and TF-M trusted execution environment (for Cortex-M), it protects hardware-level sensitive operations from malicious access. Zephyr balances security and development efficiency, making it the preferred system for IoT MCU development.
2. Designing a Reliable Boot Process Based on MCUboot and Zephyr RTOS[33]
This article discusses the key elements of designing a boot program using MCUboot in Zephyr RTOS, emphasizing the need to determine flash partition layout (single/dual slot), secure signature algorithms, firmware upgrade strategies (overwrite/swap), version rollback prevention mechanisms, and serial recovery support early in the system design, ensuring system reliability through rigorous testing.
3. Insights from the Global Chip Shortage[34]
The author faced a chip shortage in 2020 and spent two months porting firmware to Zephyr, using a real-time operating system like Zephyr allowed for easy switching to other platforms defined in the configuration file during the chip shortage.
4. Zephyr Code Generation AI[35]
Providing comprehensive AI support for all Zephyr-compatible frameworks, platforms, and tools:
- Using AI to generate device trees, Kconfig, and subsystem code that meet Zephyr standards based on hardware input.
- AI analyzes task scheduling, thread priorities, and resource allocation, providing improvement suggestions to minimize latency.
- AI can utilize Zephyr’s HAL library to identify and configure GPIO, I2C, UART, and other peripherals.
- Detecting logical errors in applications and providing fixes using GDB and Zephyr’s native logging subsystem.
Zephyr Monthly Knowledge
1. By default, Zephyr’s console is initialized in the POST_KERNEL phase, and previous logs cannot be seen. In some cases, to debug and see logs from the PRE_KERNEL_1 phase, you can add<span>CONFIG_EARLY_CONSOLE=y</span> to initialize the console in the PRE_KERNEL_1 phase.
References
[1]
lgl88911/Zephyr_Fans_Monthly: https://github.com/lgl88911/Zephyr_Fans_Monthly
[2]
Next Generation USB in 4.2.0: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/issues/42066
[3]
Long-term plan for unified prefix public API: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/issues/64627
[4]
Adding DALI driver to Zephyr: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/pull/88128
[5]
Adding support for renesas_elc driver for Renesas devices: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/pull/88141
[6]
Driver API and thread safety: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/issues/89109
[7]
Importing counter capture API: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/pull/89127
[8]
Deprecating blocking read sensor API: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/issues/70651
[9]
Zephyr Architecture Dashboard: https://github.com/orgs/zephyrproject-rtos/projects/35
[10]
Zephyr participated as an ecosystem partner at The Things Conference: https://www.zephyrproject.org/zephyr-project-joins-the-things-conference-2025-as-ecosystem-partner/
[11]
Zephyr presentation topics at the Open Source Summit in India: https://www.zephyrproject.org/open-source-summit-india-check-the-talks-featuring-zephyr-rtos/
[12]
Pune, India 5.23: https://www.zephyrproject.org/zephyr-project-meetup-may-23-2025pune-india-what-to-expect/
[13]
Krakow, Poland 5.22: https://www.zephyrproject.org/zephyr-project-meetup-may-23-2025pune-india-what-to-expect/
[14]
Boston, USA: 5.22: https://www.zephyrproject.org/zephyr-project-meetup-may-22-2025-boston-usa-what-to-expect/
[15]
Bangalore, India: 5.17: https://www.zephyrproject.org/zephyr-project-meetup-may-17-2025-bangalore-india-what-to-expect/
[16]
Zephyr Weekly Update 5.23: https://www.zephyrproject.org/zephyr-weekly-update-video-killed-the-radio-star/
[17]
#82158: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/pull/82158
[18]
#90176: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/pull/90176
[19]
#89118: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/pull/89118
[20]
#86815: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/pull/86815
[21]
Percepio launches free Zephyr debugging tool Percepio View: https://www.zephyrproject.org/tracing-zephyr-applications-with-percepio-view/
[22]
Variscite offers Zephyr solutions: https://www.variscite.com/newsroom/zephyr-rtos-now-supported-on-variscite-systems-on-module-enhanced-flexibility-for-embedded-projects/
[23]
ADI’s codefusion-studio supports Zephyr: https://developer.analog.com/docs/codefusion-studio/1.1.0/release-notes/1.1.0/
[24]
Xuantie processors support Zephyr: https://www.xrvm.cn/community/download?id=4402506918707400704
[25]
A user complains about Zephyr on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/embedded/comments/1kd5afc/zephyr_is_the_worst_embedded_rtos_i_have_ever/
[26]
5 Reasons Why Zephyr RTOS Will Dominate the Embedded World: https://www.designnews.com/embedded-systems/zephyr-rtos-5-reasons-why-it-will-dominate-the-embedded-world-transform-industry
[27]
Why Nordic is Switching SDK to Zephyr: https://www.byte-lab.com/from-nrf5-sdk-to-nrf-connect-sdk/
[28]
ADI is hiring an Embedded Software Technical Lead: https://analogdevices.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/Technical-Lead—Embedded-Software–Developer-Toolchains—AI-Tooling_R252234-1
[29]
ABB is hiring interns for Zephyr: https://www.jobteaser.com/en/job-offers/dd8ea677-e884-4687-893c-a28829a21c26-abb-internship-or-student-worker-m-f-d-safe-and-secure-iot-devices-with-zephyr
[30]
Zephyr resources available on Renesas official website: https://www.renesas.com/en/products/microcontrollers-microprocessors/ra-cortex-m-mcus/ra-partners/zephyr-rtos
[31]
Basic concepts of the Zephyr kernel: https://embeddedexplorer.com/mastering-zephyr-os-12-essential-concepts-every-embedded-developer-must-know/
[32]
Zephyr: A Secure Choice for Embedded MCU Development: https://yuanbao.tencent.com/chat/naQivTmsDa/b05c31a7-350e-49c1-a24e-0a9de83dfcbe
[33]
Designing a Reliable Boot Process Based on MCUboot and Zephyr RTOS: https://www.aerlync.com/blogs/robust_boot_process
[34]
Insights from the Global Chip Shortage: https://www.mikebuss.com/posts/lessons-learned-from-a-global-chip-shortage
[35]
Zephyr Code Generation AI: https://promwad.com/news/choosing-rtos-freertos-zephyr-threadx-comparison